Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today, on this St Patrick's Day, I would like to say 'Slainte' to all the Irish men and women in Australia. This is a day when many millions of Australians celebrate their Irish ancestry in a relentlessly inclusive process where absolutely everyone can gain honorary Irishness for the day. Yesterday we had yet another brilliant St Patrick's Day parade through the streets of Leederville and I want to pay tribute to the work of Karen Hennessy and her brilliant team from Irish Families in Perth and to Claddagh. They represent a group of people who are not only helping the many thousands of Irish people who have come into Western Australia and into Perth over the last few years but are also connecting them with those of us from, the older stages of the Diaspora. It is vital and valuable work. We really did have a brilliant day and thank you very much for that, Karen.